Climate change
The climate is changing faster than ever, and we can see it all around us. The weather is becoming increasingly extreme. Heavy downpours, more severe storms, periods of drought, and higher temperatures can cause heat stress in cities in particular. Noorderzijlvest wants to prevent water damage and flooding. Sometimes we have to work with water rather than against it but always with the aim of waterproofing the future and living safely with water.
Heat stress
Heat stress is becoming increasingly common. Rising temperatures and urbanisation are making us more sensitive to heat. This has negative consequences for our wellbeing and health. People and animals are unable to dissipate heat in extreme heat.
Heat lingers
A city has many roads and buildings that retain heat for a long time. Cities generally have less greenery and water, and there is less wind too. As a result, the heat lingers longer and the temperature is often higher than outside the city. The difference can be as much as seven degrees.
Stress test
Landscape design can help us reduce heat stress. Many local councils have conducted a stress test in collaboration with the water authority. The test focuses on nuisance caused by drought, heat, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Local councils have to prepare for this in the best possible way, and we help them do so.
A climate atlas has been created, showing the consequences of climate change in the northeast of the Netherlands. It also shows the effects of heat.
Drought
When it is very hot and there is little or no rain over a longer period, water levels in streams and rivers drop rapidly. If this continues for a longer period, even the groundwater level will drop and then we suffer from drought.
As water authority, we set to work to restore groundwater reserves to their previous levels. We often take measures to improve water retention: more natural watercourses, better soil structure, nature-friendly banks, and more flexible water-level management where possible. We also hold discussions with water users in their areas. Together, we reach agreements to use water more sparingly. Agreements have been reached for the whole country on the distribution of water, even when there is less water available.
Water-quality issues
When water levels in streams, rivers, and lakes drop, there is a greater chance of problems with surface-water quality. There is less oxygen, which makes it difficult for fish to survive and sometimes even causes them to die. This leads to more problems with blue-green algae and botulism.
Irrigation ban
If there is insufficient rainfall, farmers will irrigate their land. This is possible as long as there is enough water in the ditches. During dry periods, we supply water from lake IJsselmeer. If the dry spell continues for a long time, we may have to impose a ban on irrigation. This means that farmers are not allowed to water their agricultural land. Incidentally, this has never happened in our region, not even during the dry summer of 2018.
Sea-level rise
In the twentieth century, sea levels rose by approximately 20 centimetres. For the Netherlands, this is one of the most significant consequences of global warming. Our region has many kilometres of dykes we must keep safe, especially now that sea levels are rising. We do this by raising, widening, and reinforcing a sea dyke, for example. In the coming years, we will be doing this at Lauwersmeer-Vierhuizergat. In recent years, work has been carried out on the Eemshaven-Delfzijl sea dyke.
Will you join us in making a change?
What can you do yourself to combat heat and drought?